SOUTH HURON - Huron OPP officers are investigating after thieves stole more than $20,000 in smart phones during an early morning break in at McNain Communications in Exeter on the weekend.

On Feb. 9 at 6:02 a.m. police were dispatched to the business when a motion alarm was tripped.  Officers arrived to find the front door forced open, but the thieves gone.

The stolen phones were new in the box.

Some of the stolen phones include:

• Nine iPhone 5s;
• Six (6) iPhone 4s;
• Six HTC Windowss;
• Four Samsung Galaxy S3s;
• Three Nokia Lumia 920s; and
• One Samsung Galaxy Tablet.

An older model, dark coloured Chevrolet Trailblazer or GMC Yukon with tinted windows was seen in the area just before the theft.

YAMAHA APEX SNOWMOBILE STOLEN

ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH – A broken down snowmobile was stolen from the edge of St. Helen’s Line on Saturday.

The owner was out for a snowmobile trail ride near the village of St. Helen’s when his machine broke down around 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 9. He left his snowmobile on the edge of St. Helen’s Line while he went to go get a tow vehicle.  When he returned an hour later his snowmobile was missing.

The stolen sled is described as a black and white 2006 Yamaha Apex TRL, 1000 cc engine, red and chrome windshield, with an after-market Bender racing exhaust system.  Written across the windshield is Mad Max.  There was a 2013 OFSC trail permit affixed.  The sled is valued at $9,000.

TOOLS AND AUTO PARTS STOLEN

MORRIS-TURNBERRY - Huron OPP officers are investigating a break, enter and theft that occurred at a home based automotive supply business located on Cranbrook Line.

Sometime between the late hours on Feb. 8, 2013 and the early morning hours of Feb. 9, 2013 those responsible entered into the detached garage through an insecure rear window.  Once inside the thieves stole approximately $10,000 in tools and automotive parts.  Some of the stolen items are listed below:

• Four Snap-On impact guns;
• Fifteen Interstate car batteries;
• Forty ACDelco brake discs sets;
• Twenty ACDelco brake pads;
• Twenty CAN-PRO wrenches;
• Ten Shell 5W40 20L pails of motor oil; and
• Collection of various hand tools.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact the Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524-8314.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

Wayne Caldwell facilitates a joint council meeting to discuss fire protection service in Morris-Turnberry.

HEATHER BOA Bullet News CENTRAL HURON – Volunteer firefighters from North Huron will continue to battle fires for its neighbours in Auburn and the surrounding area, now that Central Huron’s council has agreed to sign a one-year service agreement at a cost of nearly $104,000.

Council voted in favour of the municipal fire protection agreement for service at the north end of its municipality at a special meeting last night. It made sure provisions were in agreement requiring the North Huron fire chief to report on monthly occurrences and provide an annual summation, as well as quarterly financial reports.

Although the last agreement expired Dec. 31, it remains in place until this new agreement is executed by both municipalities.

North Huron is pitching for a 10-year agreement beginning Jan. 1, 2014, which would hold the cost to Central Huron at nearly $104,000 for the first five years, then drop to $94,000 plus consumer price indexing for the next five years. In a letter to council dated Dec. 3, Gary Long, who is North Huron’s CAO / clerk, said the municipality is almost finished a plan to rebuild its fire department to meet current standards.

“Our budget projections show savings beginning in 2015 as a result of reduced operating and capital expenditures as we move from a rebuild to a maintenance phase,” he said.

Last week, North Huron and the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry met at the Belgrave Community Centre to discuss the future of fire fighting in the two municipalities, while volunteer firefighters and other interested residents filled seats in the gallery.

Paul Gowing, who is the mayor of Morris-Turnberry, said the meeting was the upshot of his request to present two options for fire service at North Huron’s Dec. 3 meeting, which was denied. Instead he was asked to wait until North Huron has completed negotiating with other municipalities that receive contract services from its fire department.

Morris-Turnberry has created two options for fire protection service: a joint fire service with equal ownership between the two municipalities or a fire service agreement that doesn’t require its contribution to capital and reserve costs. It took this plan to its Dec. 4 council meeting, opening discussion with the public.

North Huron initiated plans for a joint council meeting facilitated by Wayne Caldwell, a former Huron County planner and director of the University of Guelph’s school of environmental design and rural development, to discussion fire protection.

“We didn’t think we needed a facilitator. We think we have a very strong proposal and we’ve had good discussion, at least among ourselves, but this is working very well,” Gowing said, after the meeting.

During discussion, councillors were asked to brainstorm on a number of ideas, including things they wanted in a fire protection agreement, and advantages and disadvantages of the two options. The meeting was meant to open dialogue, with no decision that evening.

To read the full presentation, click fire service presentation by Wayne Caldwell.

The next meeting will be held Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Belgrave Community Centre.

CENTRAL HURON – Huron OPP is investigating after a Clinton woman lost more than $6,500 in a lottery scam.

Since Dec. 28, 2012, the victim sent six wire transfers to process what was promised by a male caller to be $3.5 million and a Mercedes Benz as second place in the MegaMillions lottery.

The phone call was followed up with an email congratulating her on the win, then in a second phone call she was told it would cost $1,200 to cover taxes and transfer fees, police say, in a press release issued today.

The scammer continued to try to take the victim’s money by calling her and claiming to be a Customs Official from New York.  She was told her prize vehicle was at the border and it would cost $1,500 to deliver. By this point, the victim knew she had been scammed and did not respond.

Police say there are an increasing number of scam lottery emails advising people they have hit the jackpot.

They remind the public of a few things to keep in mind when being solicited:

• You cannot win without first buying a lottery ticket;
• Lottery corporations do not tell you to keep your winnings secret;
• Lottery corporations do not notify winners by email;
• Neverpay handling fees or service charges to collect a lottery or sweepstakes win;
• Be skeptical of sweepstakes scams and lottery wins that instruct you to wire money. Scammers generally use services like Western Union because it is very difficult to trace who received the money; and
• Neversend money to a stranger using a money transfer service.

Huron County OPP is asking residents to beware of unsolicited phone calls, letters, faxes or emails. If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Hang up the phone, delete the emails and shred the letters or faxes.  If you don’t respond, you don’t get scammed.

To learn more about common frauds and how to report a fraud you can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre.ca or 1-888-495-8501.

TOOLS STOLEN FROM SHED

MORRIS-TURNBERRY –Huron OPP officers are investigating a break, enter and theft from a shed located at a cottage property on Glenannon Road.  This crime took place sometime between midnight on Jan. 13, 2013 and 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 15.  The total value of the stolen goods is estimated at nearly $3,000.  The stolen items include:

• Stihl Chainsaw, model 440 with a 20-inch bar;
• An 18-inch bar Dolmar Chainsaw;
• A Summit brand hunting tree stand;
• New in the box Mastercraft toolbox;
• John Deere wrench set; and
• A snowmobile helmet, size extra large, black with red and silver striping.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524-8314.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

SUPERCYCLE MOUNTAIN BIKE STOLEN 

GODERICH -Huron OPP officers are on the lookout for Supercycle 10-speed mountain bike stolen from an unlocked shed on Britannia Road East.  The owner discovered the bicycle was missing on Jan. 14, 2013.  The owner believes the bike was stolen sometime over the last few weeks. The bicycle is black with red graphics. The bike is equipped with a bell, a lock under the seat, and rear shocks. The bicycle is valued at approximately $200.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524-8314.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

January 15, 2013

GMC SIERRA PICK UP STOLEN

HURON EAST – Huron OPP officers are investigating the theft of an unlocked two-tone red and silver 1994 GMC Sierra pickup stolen from a Browntown Road farm property. The truck is an extended cab with dark tinted windows.  The keys for the truck had been left in the gas cap.

The pickup was stolen sometime overnight between Jan. 14, 2013 and 8 a.m. on Jan. 15, 2013.  The vehicle is estimated be worth approximately $1,500.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524-8314.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

FORD F-350 PICKUP STOLEN

HOWICK -Huron OPP officers are investigating the theft of an unlocked two-tone maroon and beige 2004 Ford F-350 pickup truck.  The truck was stolen from an Albert Street residence in Fordwich.  The truck was stolen sometime between 8 p.m. on Jan. 12, 2013 and 10 a.m. on Jan. 13, 2013.  Also stolen were a Magellan GPS system, two child seats and a hockey bag containing hockey equipment.  The truck is equipped with chrome step bars.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524-8314.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

HONDA MINI BIKE & JOHN DEERE GATOR STOLEN

MORRIS-TURNBERRY –A break, enter and theft in Morris-Turnberry has left some youngsters without their favourite toys.  Sometime between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Jan. 10, 2013 thieves broke into a shed located on Orange Hill Road. Once inside, the thieves stole a child’s electric powered John Deere Gator valued at approximately $500.  Also stolen was a red Honda XR 50, 2001 model mini bike.  The dirt bike has a black and yellow sticker on the front mud guard and it is inscribed with a black and yellow Honda on the side.  The dirt bike is valued at $1.500.  The criminals also caused about $300 in damage to the shed door.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524-8314.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

BE WARY OF TRAVELLING AUCTION

OTTAWA – The OPP Anti-Rackets Branch is reminding the public of the potential risks involved with purchasing items from travelling auction companies.

The public, when possible, should always confirm the accuracy and authenticity of appraisals accompanying high-priced items offered at travelling auctions before a purchase is made.

Would-be purchasers should also ensure that they have read and understood all of the fine print information associated with the auction company before they buy any item.  There may be details in ‘the fine print’ that state the appraisal amounts are replacement amounts only for insurance purposes and that this information should not be relied upon as an accurate current value of the item.  There may also be policies that disallow refunds or returns of these items.

If you suspect you or someone you know has been a victim of fraudulent activities, contact your local police service or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

MORRIS-TURNBERRY – A 31-year-old man from Teeswater faces eight charges after an early morning police chase today.

Just after 8 a.m. this morning a Huron OPP officer saw a red Chevrolet Optra speeding westbound on Howick-Turnberry Road.  The officer attempted to stop the speeder, however the driver failed to stop for police.  The vehicle continued speeding southbound on Keiffer Lane, failing to stop at two stop signs.

In the interest of public safety, police called off the chase.  However, the vehicle was later stopped on Harriston Road at Brussels Line.

The Teeswater man has been charged with fleeing from a police officer, dangerous driving, breach of probation, speeding, two counts of driving while disqualified and two counts of driving while suspended.

He is currently held in custody and has a scheduled court appearance set for Nov. 14, 2012 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.

HEATHER BOA Bullet News WINGHAM – Councils from two municipalities at an impasse in negotiations on a fire servics agreement will consider the merits of a joint fire service, after hearing a presentation from the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office last night.

Councils from the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry and the Township of North Huron embarked on a fact-finding mission by inviting representatives from the OFM office to share the experience of the towns of Aurora and Newmarket, which consolidated two fire departments into the Central York Fire Services in 2002.

“It is possible to have a jointly owned and operated fire service,” said Dennis Gannon, who is OFM’s operations manager for southwestern Ontario.

“I am not suggesting that model or any model is good for anybody in the province. I am just providing you with an example of one that has worked in the province,” he said.

Gannon outlined the requirements set out in the Fire Protection and Prevention Act for services provided to the communities. Within those parameters, it will be up to the municipalities to decide the level of services based on needs and circumstances. For example, fire fighters in this rural area may not need to be trained in highrise rescue.

In Central York, which now has 119 full-time fire fighters working out of four fire stations, the fire chief reports to a committee, which is carefully structured to ensure equality for each municipality. The six-member committee consists of three councillors from each municipality and a quorum requires at least two councillors from each municipality. In addition, the chairman and vice-chairman must not be from the same municipality. For administrative purposes, one municipality is charged with the job of handling payroll, purchasing and insurance.

While the Central York Fire Services is arranged so that each municipality has equal say, all costs are based on a weighted formula that takes into consideration assessment, population and calls.

So that there were no disagreements in the future, the municipalities also devised rules of arbitration. Gannon said it’s doubtful they’ve resorted to arbitration in the past decade.

“It’s the willingness of the partners to get together, provide those terms of reference and establish it in the forefront so they don’t have those disagreements moving forward in the future,” he said.

On Jan. 1, 2010, North Huron formed its own fire department, headed by a full-time fire chief, with fire stations in Wingham and Blyth. At that time, two fire services boards that served the area were disbanded: the Wingham and Area Fire Service Board, which was owned and operated by the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry, Township of Howick and Township of North Huron; and the Blyth and District Fire Service Board, which was owned and operated by the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry, Municipality of Central Huron, Township of North Huron and the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh.

The Township of Howick also created its own fire department when the boards were disbanded, with a fire station in Gorrie.

Morris-Turnberry has contracted fire services from North Huron, In a meeting between the two councils on June 28, North Huron offered a five-year contract with inflation indexing when the agreement for fire services expires in 2013 that will include services of a fire prevention officer, smoke alarm campaign and a review of the boundary agreement that may result in an extended coverage area. It refused to cut a budget that will see it spend $1.1 million on capital and operating expenses in 2012.

Morris-Turnberry said the fee charged would be more equitable if it were based on assessment and if it were not charged for funds set aside in annual budgets to purchase new vehicles and equipment, since the municipality does not have ownership in capital.

Bernie Bailey, a councillor from North Huron, said that although Morris-Turnberry has maintained in the past its share of costs is 32 per cent, he believed it would need to contribute 50 per cent of costs in order to get 50 per cent ownership. He worried the level of service would be compromised if Morris-Turnberry were not willing to pay half the costs.

Neil Warwick, who is a councillor in Morris-Turnberry, asked whether costs could be tailored so they aren’t as costly.

Dave Sparling, who is deputy chief of North Huron Fire Services, said on his first structure fire as deputy chief he had one fire fighter with an expired air pack and a second fire fighter with a six-inch crack in the cylinder of his air pack in the building. At another fire scene, they had three Central Huron fire fighters on a 35-foot ladder that had a catastrophic failure when it was tested three weeks later.

He said he would not accept a budget or department that was returned to those historic conditions.

“And quite frankly, the wives of my fire fighters will not accept that either,” he said.

Sparling also questioned why five councillors and the chief administrative officer from the Municipality of Central Huron were observing the meeting from the gallery. He said that if the municipality wanted to buy into the partnership, it should have made its intentions know beforehand and been given a seat at the table.

Jim Ginn, who is the mayor of Central Huron, said if the ownership were to change, it could affect the fire services agreement his municipality has with North Huron.

“There’s never been any suggestion that we want to be part-owners. I don’t know where you’re coming from. I think you’re totally out of line, personally,” he said.

Some councillors from North Huron worried that jointly owned and operated fire services would not overcome the issues that first arose when they belonged to a fire board and continued when the two municipalities entered into a service agreement in 2010.

“The fire board was at the point where it was dysfunctional,” said Archie MacGowan, who is a councillor from North Huron. “I can remember going home at night really worried. It didn’t seem to me and some others that things were running like they should. God forbid, if something happens, we’re going to be in a lot of hot water here.”

The problem was fixed by established fire services over which the municipality had control, he said.

When Neil Warwick, a councillor from Morris-Turnberry, questioned the jump in costs in the past few years, MacGowan asked what his reaction would be if a joint fire services were established and a review determined the costs were valid.

“I’d do the same as you. You sit on a committee. You look at the budget. You look at your expenses. Can I cut this? Can I cut that? No I can’t. This is the level of service we need. This is what it costs. That’s fine. If we’re an equal partner, we’ll pay our equal share based on something. Not based on an arbitrary figure thrown at us, saying ‘there’s your portion, here’s the bill’,” Warwick said.

North Huron and Morris-Turnberry will discuss further the possibility of jointly owned and operated fire services at their council tables.

WROXETER – Continuing dry conditions have prompted the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority to step up its notice of low water flow across its watershed from a Level 1 to a Level 2 today.

In July, a Level 1 Low Flow Bulletin was issued for the Maitland watershed. Continuing dry conditions across the watershed and declining flows in the river system have caused the local Water Response Team to upgrade the bulletin to a Level 2 Low Flow Bulletin.

Level 2 bulletins are issued when stream flows are approximately 50 per cent of their normal flow or the watershed’s precipitation for one month falls below 60 per cent of average.

The Lower Maitland River sub-basin is being particularly hard hit by low flows.

The long-term average flow at Benmiller is 9.2 cms (cubic metres per second) but during the first eight days of August the flow rate averaged 1.9 cms, according to a press release issued today.

On Aug. 8, the flow rate was just 1.49 cms.

This may have a significant impact on water quality in the area and is detrimental for aquatic species. Levels this low make it very difficult for fish to move freely and may restrict their ability to find food and shelter. Lower water levels also leads to higher water temperatures and this in turn may create algae blooms in the river.

With the implementation of the Level 2 Low Flow Bulletin, watershed residents are strongly encouraged to reduce activities that remove water directly from watercourses. In a Level 2 situation, municipalities and the provincial government may implement or increase restrictions on non-essential water use.

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has developed a Low Water Response Strategy to assist areas experiencing low water conditions. Under the strategy, Water Response Teams are formed so local communities can carry out actions to reduce and better manage water use.

The Water Response Team in the Maitland watershed includes representatives from municipalities, agricultural groups, Ministries of Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the MVCA.

The MVCA monitors precipitation, stream flow and water levels in order to recognize and measure the severity of low water conditions. Staff at the MVCA is working to develop a more comprehensive understanding of flow levels in dry conditions. It would like to get a more accurate picture of how landowners are using river water. For example, it would like to learn more about how much water is being used and when it’s being used.

In addition staff would like to hear how shallow wells are holding up during this dry period.

Anyone who would like to share information about low flows in their area is asked to contact Mat Shetler at [email protected] or call 519 335-3557.

HEATHER BOA Bullet News WINGHAM – The Township of North Huron is offering to enhance fire services as it negotiates a new fire services agreement with the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry but it won’t budge on the price tag, the township’s administrator told a joint council meeting recently.

It offered a five-year contract with inflation indexing when the agreement for fire services expires in 2013 that will include services of a fire prevention officer, smoke alarm campaign and a review of the boundary agreement that may result in an extended coverage area during the meeting Thursday night at the Columbus Centre in Wingham.

But it stopped short of making cuts to a budget that would see it spend $1.1 million on capital and operating expenses in 2012.

“We can’t sacrifice the safety of our fire fighters. We’re not going to sacrifice the standards or our commitment to clients. We’re not going to sacrifice the safety of your residents or our residents,” said Gary Long, who is the chief administrative office in North Huron.

“So slashing our fire department budget is not an option. In fact, it would be dangerous and irresponsible,” he said.

On Jan. 1, 2010, North Huron formed its own fire department, headed by a full-time fire chief, with fire stations in Wingham and Blyth. At that time, two fire services boards that served the area were disbanded: the Wingham and Area Fire Service Board, which was owned and operated by the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry, Township of Howick and Township of North Huron; and the Blyth and District Fire Service Board, which was owned and operated by the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry, Municipality of Central Huron, Township of North Huron and the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh.

The Township of Howick also created its own fire department when the boards were disbanded, with a fire station in Gorrie.

Paul Gowing, who is mayor of Morris-Turnberry, said the presentation by North Huron offered the first movement on a fire services agreement since they signed the agreement in 2010.

“That’s a great, positive sign here this evening,” he said.

He said the information would go back to his council for discussion, since it was the first time they were seeing the new information. However, he went through a previously prepared presentation, and explained why the municipality has considered other options to a fire service agreement with North Huron, including establishing its own fire department.

Gowing said as a result of the disbandment of the fire services board, Morris Turnberry has no ownership in a fire services board or a fire department, leaving it with no control over operations or capital purchases.

He said during a large-scale event, like the tornado that ripped through Goderich in August 2012, there is no assurance that Morris-Turnberry will receive adequate coverage since the agreement says it’s at the discretion of the fire chief whether to dispatch a fire crew to Morris-Turnberry when they’re already on the scene elsewhere.

He said fire costs for Morris-Turnberry increased 230 per cent while the area serviced by North Huron’s decreased to 63 per cent from the time when fire services was provided through a board to the first year of the agreement with North Huron in 2010.

“That seemed to be an insurmountable increase,” said Gowing.

He suggested the fee charged to his municipality would be more equitable if it were based on assessment and if it were not charged for funds set aside in annual budgets to purchase new vehicles and equipment, since his municipality does not have ownership in capital. The communities with fire service agreements with North Huron – Morris-Turnberry, Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh and Central Huron – contribute 51.42 per cent of funds to reserves for capital purchases.

“Is this right?” Gowing asked.

Instead, he calculated that if Morris-Turnberry were not charged for capital and a few other items, its contribution to the budget would be 32 per cent, which he said is more in line with its assessment.

Gowing said other communities with fire service agreements with North Huron should be invited to the table if comments reported in the media May 28 by the municipality’s reeve, Neil Vincent, that any money not paid by Morris-Turnberry would be picked up other participating municipalities were correct.

However, in a letter to the Municipality of Central Huron dated June 20, Long said no additional costs would be assumed by the participating municipalities if Morris-Turnberry were to create its own fire department.

At the end of the meeting, Vincent said questions from the audience could be directed in writing to the appropriate council.

BELGRAVE – The fire chief of the 44-member volunteer fire department in North Huron announced he is taking a medical leave of absence recently.

Fire chief John Black’s duties will be divided between the two deputy chiefs. It is expected council will appoint deputy chief Keith Hodgkinson as the interim fire chief, responsible for day-to-day operations of the fire department, managing current projects and priorities. Deputy chief David Sparling will assume more responsibility for the Emergency Services Training Centre in Blyth and continue to implement the expanded business plan and marketing strategy for the regional training centre, according to a press release issued by the Township of North Huron today.

“Over the past three years, John has worked tirelessly to establish the FDNH, secure service contracts with neighbouring municipalities, expand the ESTC, and build a legally compliant fire department.  A team is in place to manage the FDNH and continue with the important work John has started,” said Neil Vincent, who is reeve of the Township of North Huron.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with John and his family. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to having him rejoin us,” he said.

Black began as fire chief in North Huron in June 2009. He served 24 years on the Gravenhurst Fire Department, ending his career there as deputy chief. He was also a qualified instructor with the Ontario Fire College and instructed at the Blyth Emergency Safety Training Centre before joining the local fire department.

HEATHER BOA Bullet News SEAFORTH – The shovel is expected to go in the ground at the site of the new Maitland River Elementary School in Wingham today.

The Avon Maitland District School Board awarded the construction contract to Devlin Construction of Guelph, at a cost of $10,158,700. A building permit has already been issued for the project.

“The building of the new school in North Huron has not been without its challenges. It’s been an arduous process in a number of ways,” said Ted Doherty, who is the education director, at an AMDSB meeting last week.

“I know there have been rumours about some funding issues. I should point out that the ministry (of education) will not allow us to go to tender if the money’s not there,” he said. There have been suggestions that the province was going to pull funding for the new school.

“This has been a long time coming. It’s a wonderful move. It is a monumental day for Maitland River Elementary,” said Colleen Schenk, who is a trustee representing Northeast Huron.

The new school, serving children in Kindergarten to Grade 6, will be built to the east of F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham. It will feature 24 classrooms including four kindergarten spaces, one flexible kindergarten/oversize classroom, 15 regular classrooms, three special education classrooms, 1 multi-purpose room/classroom, and a library. It will also house a regular volleyball size gymnasium with storage, a servery, barrier-free washroom, change rooms, and two sets of girls and boys washrooms.

Coupled with civil work that’s estimated to cost more than $1.8 million, the total project has a price tag of nearly $12 million. The provincial government will fund $10.1 million with the remainder coming from various reserves in the board’s budget.

Wingham Public School, Turnberry Central Public School, East Wawanosh Public School and Blyth Public School will close with the majority of students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 moved to a new school. Most students in Grades 7 and 8 will attend F.E. Madill Secondary School. It is expected the new school will open September 2013.

Some students at Blyth PS will attend Hullett Central Public School.